Nottingham Forest v Leeds United: Big match preview

Check out our at-a-glance guide to Leeds United’s clash with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Key Battle - Michael Mancienne v Chris Wood

Forest might be scoring for fun but they are not so jovial about the number of goals going in at the back. Ten concessions in four league games is a record which only bottom-of-the-table Blackburn Rovers can beat and while Leeds need to be wary of the likes of Britt Assombalonga and Oliver Burke, Wood should be fancying the opportunity to get stuck into Forest’s backline.

Key Man - Oliver Burke

Burke is a 19-year-old winger with pace, power and an eye for goal. He is already featuring in Scotland’s international squads and while Gordon Strachan’s comparison to Gareth Bale might be far-fetched at this stage, big things are expected of the youngster. He scored in a win over Burton Albion on the first weekend of the season and struck twice in last Saturday’s 4-3 defeat of Wigan.

Last time at the City Ground:

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Nottingham Forest 1 Leeds United 1

Goals: Forest - Oliveira 17. Leeds - Byram 80.

Phil Hay’s view: “This game could go any which way but it surely cannot finish goalless given the records of the two teams. Forest seem to be in the mould of conceding three and scoring four - something they have done twice already this season - and shape and discipline will be important for United but they have to put pressure on Forest’s defence. Other teams have had no difficulty making them crack.”